Bio cartridges

Abstract

A bio cartridge includes a reaction chamber disposed within a housing and containing a reagent, a specimen transfer channel providing a transfer path through which a specimen supplied to the housing is transferred into the reaction chamber, a mixing unit mixing the specimen with the reagent, and an air pressure unit providing air pressure to the specimen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bio cartridge comprising:
 a reaction chamber in a housing, the reaction chamber storing a reagent;   a specimen transfer channel providing a transfer path through which a specimen is transferred into the reaction chamber;   a mixing unit mixing the specimen with the reagent; and   an air pressure unit providing air pressure to the specimen.   
     
     
         2 . The bio cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a mounting region in which a specimen collection unit capable of collecting the specimen is mounted. 
     
     
         3 . The bio cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the specimen transfer channel comprises an inlet opened toward the mounting region. 
     
     
         4 . The bio cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein the housing includes an insertion part in which the specimen collection unit is inserted;
 wherein the insertion part is connected to the inlet; and   wherein a width of the insertion part becomes progressively less toward the inlet of the specimen transfer channel.   
     
     
         5 . The bio cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the air pressure unit comprises: an air injecting needle capable of entering into the inside of the specimen collection unit; and an air transfer channel connected to the air injecting needle. 
     
     
         6 . The bio cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the housing includes an air inhaling hole through which air is inhaled from the outside of the housing,
 wherein the air pressure unit is installed within the housing, the air transfer channel is connected to the air inhaling hole, and the air injecting needle protrudes into the mounting region.   
     
     
         7 . The bio cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the air pressure unit is a distinct module that is not disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The bio cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a clamp installed in the mounting region to clamp the specimen collection unit. 
     
     
         9 . The bio cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing unit comprises:
 a magnetic stirring unit in the reaction chamber along with the reagent; and   a rotating unit providing rotary power to the magnetic stirring unit,   wherein the rotating unit includes a motor having a magnet installed at an end of a rotating axis.   
     
     
         10 . The bio cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
 an air exhaust channel connected to the reaction chamber, the air exhaust channel providing an exhaust path of air exhausted from the reaction chamber; and   an air exhaust hole connected to the air exhaust channel, the air exhausted through the air exhaust hole.   
     
     
         11 . A bio cartridge comprising:
 a housing including a mounting region in which a specimen collection unit is mounted, the mounting region having an insertion part in which the specimen collection unit is inserted;   a reaction chamber disposed in the housing, a reagent and a stirring unit disposed in the reaction chamber;   a specimen transfer channel of which first and second ends are connected to the insertion part and the reaction chamber, respectively;   a rotating unit disposed in the housing, the rotating unit generating power capable of rotating the stirring unit; and   an air pressure unit providing air into the specimen collection unit to generate air pressure inside the specimen collection unit.   
     
     
         12 . The bio cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the insertion part includes a protrusion protruding from a bottom surface of the mounting region; and
 wherein the protrusion includes an inner surface inclined downward toward the first end of the specimen transfer channel.   
     
     
         13 . The bio cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the insertion part includes a recess region recessed from a bottom surface of the mounting region; and
 wherein a width of the recess region becomes progressively less from the bottom surface toward the first end of the specimen transfer channel.   
     
     
         14 . The bio cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the rotating unit includes a motor having a magnet installed at an end of a rotating axis; and
 wherein the stirring unit has magnetism to rotate by operation of the motor.   
     
     
         15 . The bio cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the air pressure comprises: an air injecting needle providing air into the specimen collection unit; and an air transfer channel providing a path transferring the air to the air injecting needle;
 wherein the air pressure unit is disposed in the housing; and   wherein the air injecting needle protrudes into the mounting region so as to be inserted into the specimen collection unit.   
     
     
         16 . The bio cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 a clamp installed in the mounting region,   wherein the clamp is movable along a longitudinal direction of the specimen collection unit.   
     
     
         17 . A bio cartridge comprising:
 a housing in which a reaction chamber is provided, the reaction chamber receiving a biological specimen from a pipet collecting the biological specimen and containing a reagent reacting with a target material in the biological specimen,   wherein the housing comprises:
 an air pressure unit including an air injecting needle and an air transfer channel, the air injecting needle inserted into the pipet to provide air into the pipet, and the air transfer channel providing a path through which air injected from the outside of the housing is transferred to the air injecting needle; 
 a specimen transfer channel providing a path through which the biological specimen is transferred from the pipet to the reaction chamber; and 
 a mixing unit including a stirring unit disposed in the reaction chamber and a motor generating rotary power capable of rotating the stirring unit, the motor having a magnet installed at an end of a rotating axis, 
   wherein the air pressure unit generates air pressure inside the pipet to transfer the biological specimen into the reaction chamber through the specimen transfer channel; and   wherein the mixing unit rotates the stirring unit by driving of the motor to mix the biological specimen transferred in the reaction chamber with the reagent stored in the reaction chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The bio cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the housing includes a pipet mounting region defined by a recessed sidewall of the housing;
 wherein an insertion part of a funnel-shape is provided in the pipet mounting region; and   wherein the pipet is inserted in the insertion part.   
     
     
         19 . The bio cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the stirring unit has a ball, bearing or bar shape having magnetism. 
     
     
         20 . The bio cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the biological specimen includes urine; and
 wherein the reagent includes picric acid using creatinine as the target material, or polyvinylpyrrolidone using microalbumin as the target material.